Month: February 2018

Arizona rooms have become a popular renovation project for countless homeowners. While originating in the Copper State from which it receives its namesake, they’ve since made their way throughout the country. So, what is an Arizona room exactly, and how do you create one?

Overview of Arizona Rooms

An Arizona room is a covered and screened-in outdoor extension of a home that’s typically used for recreational and leisure purposes. They are typically found in the back yard, attached to either the kitchen or living room. Arizona rooms generally follow the same decorative style as the rest of the home to create a cohesive appearance in which all of the colors and accessories flow together naturally.

It’s no secret that Arizona is one of the hottest states in which to live. Statistics show that during the summer, temperatures in the Copper State can reach up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, many homeowners prefer to relax in Arizona rooms to cool off. The Phoenix-based newspaper The Arizona Republic explains that residents here slept in Arizona rooms during the summer before air conditioning was invented to cool off. The open nature of Arizona rooms combined with the flow of air offers the perfect environment for cooling off.

Arizona Room vs Screen Room: What’s the Difference?

Some homeowners assume that Arizona rooms are the same screen rooms, but this isn’t necessarily true. While both typically feature a screened-in enclosure, there are some stark differences distinguishing them from each other.

Screened rooms usually begin as open patios and back decks that are later converted into screened-in enclosures. They are constructed with different materials than the rest of the home, and they feature a different design. In comparison, Arizona rooms are constructed as extension of the home, with an emphasis on maintaining a cohesive style and decor. Screen rooms are also smaller than their Arizona room counterparts, restricting their usability.

Perhaps the biggest difference between a screen room and Arizona room, however, lies in its purpose. As previously stated, Arizona rooms are designed for recreation and leisure. They often feature comfortable seating, stereo speakers, televisions, games and more.

Benefits of Creating an Arizona Room

Arizona rooms offer several benefits to homeowners and their family members, one of which is the ability to cool off without relying on the home’s central air conditioning unit. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), heating and cooling accounts for 47% energy usage in the average home. In Arizona, homeowners can expect to pay a premium to keep cool during the blistering-hot summer months. With an Arizona room, however, homeowners and their family members can cool off outdoors. With its covered top and screened-in design, it’s the perfect place to cool off.

Of course, an Arizona room is also an excellent place for outdoor living. According to a survey conducted by the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), 71% of consumers with outdoor living spaces want to enhance these spaces. With an Arizona room, you can easily improve your outdoor living space by adding attractive furniture and furnishings. Since it’s enclosed, you don’t have to worry about weather damaging it.

Additionally, Arizona rooms are typically protected against insects. Whether it’s mosquitoes, gnats, bees or flies, insects can force homeowners and family members to seek shelter inside their home. This isn’t a problem with most Arizona rooms, however. Because they feature a fully enclosed environment with mesh screens, there’s a barrier of protection between family members and bugs. Therefore, family members can enjoy this versatile outdoor living space without being bombarded by pesky insects.

An Arizona room is also the perfect place to grow container plants. Although it’s typically covered, some sunlight will inevitably shine through. For homeowners looking to grow container plants, an Arizona room is an ideal growing location.

Tips on Designing an Arizona Room

If you’re planning to add an Arizona room to your home, you should use an attractive, functional design. Normally, Arizona rooms follow the same or similar design as the rest of the home. This is one of the ways in which Arizona rooms differ from screen rooms. With that said, it’s perfectly fine to use a different design.

Here are some tips to follow when designing an Arizona room:

Install overhead fans to increase airflow and comfort.

Choose relaxing furniture like chaise lounges and Adirondack chairs.

Use indoor-outdoor rugs to enhance the space’s decor.

Don’t clutter furniture near the walls.

In Conclusion

To recap, an Arizona room is an enclosed, covered extension of a home that’s used for recreational and leisure purposes. They originated more than a century ago in the state of Arizona, where homeowners and family members used them to cool off. Since then, Arizona rooms have become a popular home renovation, not just in Arizona but throughout the entire country.

When properly maintained and cared for, patio furniture can last a lifetime. Unfortunately, many homeowners neglect their outdoor furniture, believing it will withstand the hands of time without any additional work. Granted, some furniture is stronger and more resilient than others. If you want your patio furniture to last, though, you should take some basic precautions by following the tips listed below.

Choose High-Quality, Durable Furniture

Choosing the right type of patio furniture is essential to making it last a lifetime. As explained in a previous blog post, wicker furniture is inexpensive and easy to care for. However, it’s also susceptible to damage. Typically made of either natural reed or synthetic PVC nylon, it’s easily damaged from falling tree limbs, weather and even regular use.

Instead of wicker, you should consider stronger and more durable furniture for your patio. Teak is arguably one of the best materials for patio furniture. This tropical hardwood is characterized by a pleasant leather-like smell and a rich mahogany finish. The greatest feature of teak, though, lies in its composition of natural oils. You see, these oils work to repel mold, mildew and bacteria; thus, protecting teak — and furniture made of teak — from rotting. You can expect to pay a premium price for genuine teak furniture, but most homeowners will agree it’s a smart investment.

Bring in Metal Furniture

Don’t leave metal furniture on your patio for long periods of time, especially during the winter. While teak furniture may hold up under the cold winter temperatures, metal furniture will not. This is because metal furniture contains iron, and when exposed to moisture, iron turns to rust. Some metal furniture is less susceptible to rusting than others, but the fact remains that all types can and will rust when left outdoors for long enough. The only way to completely safeguard your metal patio furniture from rusting is to bring it indoors when you aren’t using it.

Place Furniture in Shaded Area

If possible, try placing your patio furniture in a shaded area. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays will take a toll on uncovered furniture, causing it to fade. A chair that was once a pristine forest green color may not possess a lime green color. By placing your furniture in a shaded area, however, you’ll protect it from this phenomenon. Furniture, placing your furniture in the shade will protect it from bird droppings, falling limbs and debris, hail and more.

Alternatively, if there’s little-to-no shade on your patio, consider adding a UV-protective finish to your furniture. Many commercial varnishes are designed to protect against UV and moisture. Once applied, it creates a barrier of protection between your furniture and the outside elements.

Store Cushions

Assuming your patio furniture has cushions, consider storing the cushions in a storage container or box. Seat cushions don’t handle the heat and moisture of being outdoors. If not properly cared for, they’ll develop mold and mildew, which is nearly impossible to fully remove. Bringing your seat cushions indoors is one way to protect them from this type of damage, though you can also use a separate storage container. There are actually some containers designed specifically for storing patio seat cushions. They are large, heavy duty and waterproof, making them ideal for this purpose.

Wash and Clean Patio Furniture

There’s no other way around it: to make your patio furniture last, you must wash and clean it regularly. As long as it doesn’t have cushions, you can typically clean patio furniture by hosing it down with a garden hose. Some consumers go the extra mile by using a pressure washer, but this usually isn’t necessary. In fact, the high PSI of a pressure washer can damage certain types of furniture. Because of this, it’s recommended that you clean your patio furniture with a basis, low-pressure garden hose.

If a garden hose doesn’t suffice, use mild dish soap and a bucket of water to scrub your furniture by hand. With a little bit of elbow grease, it should come clean

Keep Patio Clean

In addition to cleaning your patio furniture, you should also clean your patio. Allowing your patio to accumulate leaves, pine straw and other debris can shorten the life of your furniture — not to mention the fact that it’s difficult to use a dirty patio. When debris such as this begins to accumulate, it encourages mold, mildew and insects, all of which can damage your furniture. So, if you want your furniture to last, try to get into the habit of cleaning your patio on a regular basis.

Patio Furniture Covers

Of course, you can also prolong the life of your patio furniture by covering it. Most home improvement stores sell vinyl covers for patio furniture. You can toss them over your furniture, protecting it from rain, insects, hail and more.